‘A red brick town’ to be created in Seongsu-dong, Seoul

A “Red Brick Town” is to be created in the northern part of Seoul Forest in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong District, Seoul.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seongdong District said on Monday that the area of 70,000 square meters in the district, 68 percent of which are taken up by red brick buildings, will be turned into a red brick town.

Under the plan, the existing red brick buildings will be preserved while those newly built or remodeled will be encouraged to use red bricks. To this end, the metropolitan government and Seongdong District will launch a “deliberative committee of red brick buildings” and install a “red brick support center” at the sharing center in Seongsu-dong in March.

First, a new red brick building in the town will be allowed to have an increased floor area ratio by up to 36 percent. Also, monetary support for construction will be provided within the limit of 20 million won when red brick buildings are newly built or extended, and up to 10 million won can be offered for the remodeling of existing buildings. To provide such support, the city government has set aside 200 million won of this year’s budget.

Also, owners of a red brick building can make a request to the district office to register the building as an “excellent architectural asset.” If the request is accepted through deliberation, owners can take out loans for revamping the interior and exterior of the building.

Requests are to be received by the Architecture Division of Seongdong District Office. Owners of red brick factories and warehouses as well as individual houses can apply for the registration.

In addition, residing architects and coordinators at the red brick support center will provide consulting services for the project.

“As ‘Bukchon’ comes to mind when thinking of the ‘Hanok Village,’ we will preserve existing architectural assets and develop the town so that people naturally associate Seongsu-dong with red bricks,” said an official from the city government.

A “Red Brick Town” is to be created in the northern part of Seoul Forest in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong District, Seoul.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seongdong District said on Monday that the area of 70,000 square meters in the district, 68 percent of which are taken up by red brick buildings, will be turned into a red brick town.

Under the plan, the existing red brick buildings will be preserved while those newly built or remodeled will be encouraged to use red bricks. To this end, the metropolitan government and Seongdong District will launch a “deliberative committee of red brick buildings” and install a “red brick support center” at the sharing center in Seongsu-dong in March.

First, a new red brick building in the town will be allowed to have an increased floor area ratio by up to 36 percent. Also, monetary support for construction will be provided within the limit of 20 million won when red brick buildings are newly built or extended, and up to 10 million won can be offered for the remodeling of existing buildings. To provide such support, the city government has set aside 200 million won of this year’s budget.

Also, owners of a red brick building can make a request to the district office to register the building as an “excellent architectural asset.” If the request is accepted through deliberation, owners can take out loans for revamping the interior and exterior of the building.

Requests are to be received by the Architecture Division of Seongdong District Office. Owners of red brick factories and warehouses as well as individual houses can apply for the registration.

In addition, residing architects and coordinators at the red brick support center will provide consulting services for the project.

“As ‘Bukchon’ comes to mind when thinking of the ‘Hanok Village,’ we will preserve existing architectural assets and develop the town so that people naturally associate Seongsu-dong with red bricks,” said an official from the city government.